Trolley-wire crossing, switch, and the like.



S. S. GOLDMAN. TROLLEY WIRE onossme, swrrcn, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1912.

Patented Oct. '7, 1913.

Ewe/27%;

UNITE STATES PATENT FEQE,

SAMUEL s. semi/ran, or s1. Louis, MIssoum.

TROLLEY-WIRE onossrno, swrron, AND THE LIKE.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented set a, rare.

Application filed April 24, 1312. se riai in; ceases.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, SAM EL S. GOLDMAN, a citizen of the Unit-edStates,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of- Missouri, have invented certain new andnsefulilmprovements in Trolley-Tire Crossings,

Switches, and the like, of which the fol-;

The trolley shown and described in said Letters Patent is designed and adapted to continuously operatively engage with atrolley-wire and not become accident-ally separated or disengaged therefrom; and Iliave found that the trolley-crossings and switches or frogs now generally in use. are not only not well adapted for use witlrmy said trolley, but are all with more or less difliculty operatively connected to the intersecting or crossing? trolley-wires !and easily become broken or otherwise damaged. I a The objects of my present invention are to provide a trolley-crossing, switch and, the like which may not only be quickly and easily operatively and firmly engaged with the intersecting ori crossing trolley-wires, but which is also simple in construction, cheap and economical to manufacture, and efiicient and durable, and which is espe.-- cially adapted and designed for use in connection with the trolley shown and .de.-. scribed in said Letters Patent No. 931,292, and to improve generally upon articles or devices of the kind stated. a.

With these objects in View, my invention resides broadly in the novel form and'c onstruction of the several parts ofmy new trolley-crossing and switch and ithe novel arrangement and combination of the same, all as will hereinafter; be described and afterward pointed out in the claims. 1

In the drawings Figure 1 1s aside elevational View, partly in section, of .a trol- 5 ley-crossing embodying my invention;

2 isva plan viewof the under or trolley-ensee'i e'f ee here f; Fie, 3 i a detail t s- Jmentary. View of the upper face of one of the cross-members of my new trolley-crossing; Fig. ,4; is a plan view of the under face Of a trolley switch or frog embodying my invention; a nd Fig.,5 is a sectional view =onthe line 55, Fig. 1;

In the accompanying drawings, for the.

purpose of illustrating and bringing out clearly the operative connection or engage- ;ment between the trolley of said Letters Pat-ent and my new crossing and frog, I have in 1 shownin dotted lines a portionof the said trolley, said trolley comprising, as ,infsaid Letters Patent fully de- ;scribed, a trollevwheeli :rotatably mounted and' arranged between side arms 2, and

iguard-wheels 3 provided on their upper surface with conical faces, asat 3 and on their lower surface with grooves of quarter- 'oircle shape in cross-section, as at 3 providing bearing fac es which normally over-t hang the groove introlley-wheel'l. p

i A,indicates the bodyfportionrof my new ;tr, olley-crossing, which may beofany suit- :able preferably" metallic material. This body portion A, shown particularly in is, substantiallylin' the form of-a cross gco'm rises similar members or trolley-tracks and 5 substantiallyV-shaped in cross section and having flat oblique side:

facesintersecting or crossing at'a point, as

at v6, betw eentheir lengths and'having theirv apices presented downwardly. At said point of crossingor intersection 6,,eacli of said membersfjortracks and 5 is interrupted or broken by a pairoftransverse substantially.

V-shaped gro'ovesthel'angle of incline and the width of the flatffaces of each of said groovesbeing the sameas the-angle of inicline and the width of the fiat oblique side faces or surfaces of saidvmeinbers 4 and 5,. and, as shown part cularly 1n Fig. 2, all of said grooves meeting at a central point or apeti, as at 7,, common to, and in alinement iwith, 'and; o1i the same horizontal plane as, the apicesfof, said members or tracks 4 and 5. With reference to said central point or apex .7, I have designated the near oblique faces of thegrooves ofthe member 4E as 4 i and the far faces thereof'asf, and the near faces ofthe grooves of member 5 as 5, and the far faces thereof 5", Thus, as will be seen, the under surface of said point of crossing or intersection 6 of said members or tracks 4 and 5 is substantially in the form of a pyramid and central like flat oblique faces are provided in each of said members or tracks in alinement with the fiat oblique side faces of the other, respectively, the near faces 4 of the grooves of member4 being thus, as it might be said, co-ntinuations of the oblique side faces of member 5"and the near faces 5 of the grooves of member 5 being similarly continuations of the oblique side faces of member 4. Thus a practically continuous and uninterrupted path is provided for said guard-Wheels 3 when traveling in either direction, the said uard-wheels 3 bein ada Jted when travel- 1'.) 13

mg in one direction, as, for instance, on track 4, to pass freely and smoothly along and across member 5, and likewise when traveling on member 5 in the other direc-' tion, to similarly pass freely and smoothly along and across member 4, as will be obyious. It will, of course, be understood that guard-wheels 3 and the grooves of members 4 and 5 are of such relative dimensions that said guard-wheels 3, as shown in Fig. 1, will fit within said grooves, and that the material of sleeves 8 hereinafter described is comparatively thin, so as not to materially increase the diameter of the trolley-wire ends and retardingly engage with and prevent the easy and free travel therealong of said guard-wheels 3.

In mounting or supporting my new trolley-crossing 1n position, the crossmg trolley wires are suitably cut at their point of intersection to provide four trolley-wire ends, said trolley-wire ends being received in suitable sleeves 8 mounted on said members 4 and 5 at the apices thereof, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, these Sleeves '8 being preferably closed at their inner ends and extending slightly beyond the outer ends of said members. As the manner of, and means for, securing said trolley-wire ends in their respective sleeves is similar, the manner of and means for securing one of said trolley ends a in its sleeve 8 on member 5 will be only here described, such description being applicable toall said sleeves and trolley-wire ends. At its apex, member or track 5 is longitudinally provided with an elongated slot, as at 9, communicating with the interior of said sleeve. On its upper or reverse face and within the groove thereof andopposite or above said sleeve 8*, said member 5' is provided adjacentits end with a preferably cylindrical portion, or wedge-housing, as I will call it, 10 provided with a verticallywidened slot, as at 11, extending therethrough and in alinement with said slot 9. Fitting within said slot 9 and partly within said slot 11 and adapted to engage with said trolley-wire end a is a preferably elongated rectangular block 12, provided on its lower edge with serrations or teeth, as at 12, adapted to impingingly engage with said trolley-wire end a; and fitting in said slot 11 and forcibly interposed in said housing above said block 12 is a coiiperating wedgeshaped block 18, whereby, as will be clear, block 12 will be held firmly and positively in engagement with said trolley-wire end a and said tr0lleywire end 64 thereby securely but removably held within its sleeve 8 Thus, as will be seen, said trolley-wire ends will be firmly held in place and operatively together and, at the same time, my new crossing will be held in elevated position above the cartracks, the trolley-wires being held elevated. above the tracks by means of suitable cross-wires, not shown, as is well understood.

It will be further seen that my new crossing is comparatively simple in construction, may be cheaply and economically manufactured, is eflicient and durable, and may be quickly and easily operatively arranged in posit-ion and connected to the crossing or intersecting trolleywires, and it is to be understood that while, as has been stated, my new trolley-crossing is particularly adapted and designed for use in connection with the trolley shown and described in said Letters Patent, yet it might also be equally well used on a trolley-wire system having the cars equipped with other and different styles or constructions of trolley-wheels.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a trolley switch or frog embodying my invention. In this form, the body portion thereof, B, which may likewise be of any suitable metallic material, comprises a straight substantially V- shaped member or trolley-track 14 having its apeX presented downwardly and an intersecting like substantially V-shaped member or trolley-track 15 having its apex likewise presented downwardly, a strengthening web 16 being preferably provided between said tracks 15 adjacent the point of intersection therebetween. tion between said tracks 14 and 15, track 14 is broken or interrupted by a groove having oblique faces, as shown, the right hand oblique face 14' thereof having an angle of incline substantially the same as the angle of incline of, and lying in the same oblique plane with, oblique faces 15 of track 15 and the angle of incline of the left-hand oblique face 14 of said groove being such as to permit guard-wheels 3 to freely pass from track 15 onto said track 14, or vice-versa, from track 14 onto track 15, as the case may be. At said point of intersection, said track 15 is obliquely cut away, as at 15, the angle of incline thereof being likewise such as -to freely permit guard-wheels 3 to pass therealong when traveling on track 14. Thus, as will be seen, a practically continuous and At the point of intersecuninterrupted track is provided for said guard-wheels 3 when traveling along track 15 and onto track 14 or vice-verse, as well as also a practically continuous and uninterrupted track for said guard wheels when traveling along track 14. In my newfrog, the intersecting trolley-wiresare alsosuitably cut to provide three trolley-wire ends, and as these ends are received'byand secured to body portion B int-he same manner as the trolley-wire ends are received by and secured to body-portion A, further description thereof is here not deemed necessary. Body-portion B may, however, ifdesired, be also provided with suitable outwardly-ex tending eyes 17 1fo1-the-attachment 'thereto of the usual streetcrossing wires.-

I am aware that minor changes in the form, arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts-of my new trolwhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A trolley-crossing or the like comprising a pair of intersecting trolley tracks sub-- stantially V-shaped in cross section, the apices of said tracks being presented downwardly and each of said tracks having opposite widened fiat oblique side faces for directly receiving the oblique faces of a pair of substantially cone-shaped trolley wheels, and a substantially pyramidal portion at the point of intersection, and common to both of said tracks and having pairs of flat oblique faces lying in the same plane with, and forming cont-inuations of, the fiat oblique side faces of both said tracks, each of said tracks adjacent said pyramidal portion being provided with oppositely-disposed fiat oblique faces extending outwardly directly from the base of the adjacent oblique faces of said pyramidal portion and forming therewith substantially V-shaped channels, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

2. A trolley crossing or the like comprising a trolley track substantially V-shaped in cross section and having its apex pre sented downwardly, an elongated sleeve fixed to said ,track and extending parallel with and directly below the apex thereof, said sleeve being adapt-ed to lengthwise removably receive therein a trolley wire end, and means adapted to engage said trolley wire end to removably secure the same in said sleeve; substantially as described.

3. In a trolley crossing or the like, a body portion comprising a trolley track provided with a longitudinally extending elongated slot, an elongated sleeve fixed on the under side of said track and communicating with said slot, said sleeve being adapted to lengthwise ,removably receive therein a trolley wire end,.a wedgediousing on the upper side of said'trolley tnackand opposite to, and communicating through said slot with said sleeve, said wedgethousingpbeing provided with a vertically widened slot in alinement with said first-mentioned slot, and wedge members adapted to lit in said slots and engage with said-trolley wire endv and said'honsingto removably securezthe same insaid sleeve substantially as described.

4. A. trolley-crossingpor the like comprising intersecting;trolleystracks substantially -shaped inf-cross section, each of said tracks beingprovided at itsiapex at. its outer ends with longitudinallyextending telemgated. .slots sleevesonthe-apex of eachof said tracks communicatingwith. said slots andwada-pted to receive trolley-wireends, wedge-housings onthe reverseside of said tracks and oppositesaid sleeves, andwedgemembers adapted to-z-fit: in said slotsand impingingly engage with said trolley-wire ends and said ilaousings; substantially as described.

5. A trolley-crossing or the like comprising intersecting r trolleyetracks substantially =Vshaped 1n cross section, each of said tracks being-provided at its apex at 1ts outer ends with longitudinally-extending elongated slots, sleeves on the apex of each of said tracks communicating with said slots and adapted to receive trolley-wire ends, wedgehousings on the reverse side of said tracks and opposite said sleeves and provided with slots extending therethrough and in alinement with said track-slots, and wedge-morn bers adapted to fit in said alining slots and impingingly engage with said trolley-wire ends and said housings; substantially as described.

6. A trolley-crossing or the like comprising intersecting trolley-tracks substantially V-shaped in cross section, each of said tracks being provided at its apex at its outer ends with longitudinally-extending elongated slots, sleeves on the apex of each of said tracks communicating with said slots and adapted to receive trolley-wire ends, wedgehousings on the reverse side of said tracks and opposite said sleeves and provided with slots extending therethrough and in alinement with said track-slots, and cotiperating wedge-members adapted to fit in said alining slots and impingingly engage with said trolley-wire ends and said housings; substantially as described.

7 In a trolley-crossing, a body-portion comprising a member provided at its ends with longitudinally-extending elongated slots, sleeves on said member communicating with said slots, said sleeves being adapted to receive trolley-wire ends, wedge-housings on the reverse side of said member and opposite said sleeves, and Wedge-members adapted to fit in said slots and impingingly engage with said trolley Wire ends and said housings; substantially as described.

8. A trolley-crossing or the like comprising a body-portion having a trolleytrack substantially V-shaped in cross-section provided at its apex and at its ends with longitudinally-extending elongated slots, sleeves on the apex of said track communicating with said slots and adapted to receive trolley-wire ends, Wedge-housings on the reverse side of said track and opposite said sleeves, and wedge-members adapted to fit in said slots and impingingly engage with said trolley-wire ends and said housings; substantially as described.

9. In ,a trolley-crossing or the like, a body-portion comprising intersecting members provided at their outer ends with longitudinally-extending elongated slots, sleeves on said members communicating with said slots, said sleeves being adapted to receive trolley-wire ends, Wedge-housings on the reverse side of said members and opposite said sleeves, and wedge-members adapted to fit in said slots and in pingingly engage with said trolley-wire ends and said housings; substantially as described.

10. In a trolley-crossing or the like, a body-portion comprising intersecting members provided at their outer ends with longitudinally-extending elongated slots, sleeves on said members communicating with said slots, said sleeves being adapted to receive trolley-wire ends, wedge-housings on the reverse side of said members and opposite said sleeves and provided with slots extending therethroughand in alinement with said firstmentioned slots, and cooperating wedge-members adapted to fit in said alining slots and impingingly engage with said trolley-wire ends and said housings; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of 45 two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL S. GOLDMAN.

Witnesses:

GHARLEs J. MALECEK, GEORGE STUMPF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washing'ton, D. C. i 

